How to Make a 'Rouge vif d'Etampes' better known as Cinderella Pumpkin : A Tutorial using Wet Felting

That was a picture of my inspiration pumpkin , a 'Rouge vif d'Etampes' which is an heirloom variety from France. It was the pumpkin that the artist used to draw the pumpkin coach from the cinderella movie and hence its other name. I love it because of it's deep orange color and deep, very distinct ribs. To make a little felt pumpkin of your own you will need some orange fleece of a feltable wool, a smaller amount of green fleece, orange embroidery thread , embroidery needle, a small button, scissors and a needle felting needle. You will need access to hot water and some liquid soap and a sink or suitable surface to use for felting. This is what we will be making. 1. Gather your materials and then make a ball or pumpkin shape by wrapping thin layers of fleece until you have a shape about the size of a medium apple. 2. Now using the wet felting technique mentioned previously on this blog with hot water and a little liquid soap rub this ball gently in your hands until the felting process begins and the wool is holding together . At that point you can start to rub more firmly and then a little later you can start to rub it on a textured surface like a bamboo mat or ribbed placemat or wash board. Shape it into a suitable pumpkin shape , rinse the soap out of it and place it somewhere to dry. While you are waiting for that to dry ( mine took overnight) you can do a small flat felt piece for the leave and roll a felt rope as described for the little stump for the stem. If you don't want to make your own felt for these little details use a small piece of commercial green felt and cut a leaf shape and sew up a small stem. 3. When your orange felt pumpkin shape is dry you can proceed. Take a long embroidery needle and thread it with at least 24 inches of thread ( 3 ply). Place a small orange button on the bottom of the pumpkin and starting at the center top of your pumpkin pull your needle through the middle so the knot is at the top and continue through the button and back through the middle to the top again. Pull it a little so as to cause a slight indentation in the center. Now go over the side of the pumpkin, through the button and around the other side. Repeat this process in different evenly spaced segments to create the characteristic grooves or ridges in the pumpkin. I made 10 grooves. For the last step I gathered up all the threads at the top of the pumpkin with a few little stitches to tidy it up a bit . I secured it and knotted the thread. 4. Cut a 2 inch piece off your green felt rope. This will be the stem. Place it at the top of the pumpkin and with your needle felting needle poke the end a number of times to secure it. If you do not own a needle felting needle then secure it with a few stitches. 5. Now do the same with your leaf. I used the end of the rope which was thinner to use as a stem for the leaf. 6. I had some hand dyed curly locks in my craft supplies so I used a few of those as tendrils. 7. Et voila, la citrouille rouge vif d'etampes. If is seems a little early to be making pumpkins you have to remember that Canadian thanksgiving is the second sunday in October and then halloween isn't far behind. These would make really wonderful little additions to your seasonal table or mantle display. One of my favorite stories written and illustrated by Tasha Tudor is Pumpkin Moonshine. I made a little felt pumpkin doll for this story when my children were young. A beautiful coincidence was that I was googling this story and discovered that yesterday they celebrated the 70th anniversary of this , Tasha's first book yesterday in Malboro, Vermont where the Tasha Tudor museum is located. ( http://www.tashatudormuseum.org/pumpkin_moonshine.htm )

Comments

[Melissa]

Oh more delights! Be careful the mice don't show up wearing chauffers caps!

your fan, Melissa

[Jess]

Another stunning picture show and incredible idea Margaret. Thank you for sharing so generously.

[Emma]

I love pumpkins! If only I had some wool.

[Jessica]

You are so generous to share all these fantastic tutorials with us! Thank you!

[Molly]

That is freaking adorable!!! I love all of your work, btw, but this one is a stand-out(probably because it seems a bit easier for me, lol). Your props are just too cute as well!

Molly

[(sc)]

Et c'est parfait ! Comme toujours !

[Cathyc]

I am going to have a go!! I have some hand dyed orange wool tops in my drawer of wool goodness and I shall try my best:) Thank you for sharing all your felt making wonders

[Elsita :)]

Wonderful tutorial Margie!
You always impress me with your ideas, the little tree in the previous post is adorable too and very clever. I just sent you the 2 drawings and the story from Natalie plus a print with you in it and 2 green friends! SURPRISE!
Have a great day!
Elsita :)

[Patricia]

Thank you for the cornucopia of Fall tutorials! I love the French pumpkin, and it's been such an education working through your tutorials. It's just easier to tackle learning a new technique (crocheting and knitting in the round for me so far) with these small, easy-to-tackle projects. You have a real gift!

I was finally able to cast on to the three double-pointed needles, and I've done two "tubes"--the first was a test, and the second one my son asked to stuff so he could use it as his viola chin rest!

[Lisa Anne]

That happens to be one of my very favorite pumpkins. We have been felting pumpkins today and then I found this link, amazing!

[Lisa Anne]

That happens to be one of my very favorite pumpkins. We have been felting pumpkins today and then I found this link, amazing!

[dot]

really cute! I'll be linking to this :)